Hotels in Königswinter

Königswinter is where Rhine Romanticism began in earnest: a small riverside town on the east bank opposite Bonn, at the foot of the Siebengebirge hills and the castle ruin of the Drachenfels, which Lord Byron celebrated in verse and which has drawn visitors ever since. Germany's oldest rack railway still hauls people up the Drachenfels, stopping at the turreted, over-the-top Schloss Drachenburg on the way, and the surrounding hills offer some of the best walking near the Rhineland cities.

Across the valley, the Petersberg has hosted federal-government guests and international conferences. Be honest: this is primarily a day-trip destination, so summer weekends bring crowds to the riverfront and Drachenfels summit, while evenings in the old town can feel quiet and somewhat old-fashioned. The main road and railway also run along the Rhine. Bonn is a short ferry or tram ride away, and Cologne Bonn Airport is within easy reach. Stay in the Altstadt near the river and the Drachenfels railway station for walkable access to the hills, the promenade and the ferry.